Air Filter Cleaning Wand

ABSTRACT

An apparatus and a method are provided for an air filter cleaning wand for flushing contaminants from an intake air filter of an automobile engine. The air filter cleaning wand comprises a proximal flange, a conduit, and a distal end portion. The proximal flange is configured to receive a nozzle of a water hose. An interior of the conduit is in fluid communication with the proximal flange. The distal end portion comprises a plurality of longitudinally aligned vents in fluid communication with the interior of the conduit. Upon passing water through the water hose and into the conduit, pressurized water streams exit the vents along the distal end portion so as to flush contaminants from the air filter. The air filter cleaning wand advantageously is comprised of a material which is sufficiently durable and temperature resistant to retain its configuration during operation when coupled to pressurized water sources.

FIELD

The field of the present invention generally relates to cleaningdevices. More particularly, the field of the invention relates to anapparatus and a method for an air filter cleaning wand for flushingcontaminants from an intake air filter of an automobile engine.

BACKGROUND

An air filter designed to remove particulate is generally a devicecomposed of fibrous materials. These fibrous materials may remove solidparticulates such as dust, pollen, mold, and bacteria from the air. Airfilters are used in applications where air quality is important, notablyin building ventilation systems and in automobile engines.

Air filters may be used in automobiles, trucks, tractors, locomotivesand other vehicles that use internal combustion engines. Air filters maybe used with gasoline engines, diesel engines, or other engines that runon fossil fuels or other combustible substances. Air filters may be usedwith engines in which combustion is intermittent, such as four-strokeand two-stroke piston engines, as well as other types of engines thattake in air so as to burn a combustible substance. For example, airfilters may be used with some gas turbines. Filters may also be usedwith air compressors or in other devices that take in air.

Filters may be made from pleated paper, foam, cotton, spun fiberglass,or other known filter materials. Generally, the air intakes of internalcombustion engines and compressors tend to use paper, foam, or cottonfilters. Some filters use an oil bath. Air filters for internalcombustion engines prevents abrasive particulate matter from enteringthe engine's cylinders, where it would cause mechanical wear and oilcontamination. Many fuel injected engines utilize a flat panel pleatedpaper filter element. This filter is usually placed inside an enclosed,plastic box connected to a throttle body by way of ductwork. Vehiclesthat use carburetors or throttle body fuel injection systems typicallyuse a cylindrical air filter positioned above the carburetor or thethrottle body.

A drawback to enclosed air boxes that require flat panel paper filtersis that air flow through the filter becomes restricted as particularmatter builds up in the filter. Such a restricted air flow generallyleads to a reduction in engine performance, such as a decrease in enginepower output and greater fuel consumption. Moreover, as the paper filterbecomes increasingly clogged, pressure inside the filter decreases whilethe atmospheric air pressure outside the filter remains the same. Whenthe difference in pressure becomes too great, contaminants may be drawnthrough the paper filter directly into the engine. Thus, the ability ofthe paper filter to protect the engine from contamination and internaldamage tends to decrease near the end of the filter's service life.Typically, paper air filters are removed from the vehicle and discarded,and a new paper air filter is then installed. Considering that there aremillions of vehicles throughout the world, the volume of discarded airfilters that could be eliminated from landfills is a staggering number.Another drawback to enclosed air boxes is that they typically draw airthrough a tortuous path of hoses or ductwork before the air enters theintake of the engine. In some cases, the air box is a greater source ofair restriction than is the paper filter. Similar to a contaminated airfilter, a restrictive air box decreases engine performance and fueleconomy.

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary embodiment 100 of an air box 104 with anintegrated air filter 108 which solves the above-mentioned drawbacks toconventional air filters. The air box 104 comprises a housing portion112 and a mount portion 116. The air box 104 generally is comprised of amaterial which is sufficiently durable and temperature resistant toretain its configuration during installation and operation when coupledwith the air intake system of an automobile. The air box 104 generallyis of an open variety, thereby improving airflow to the air filter 108,and thus improving engine performance beyond that otherwise possiblewith an enclosed air box. The mount portion 116 generally is configuredto be mounted, or fastened, to the interior of an automobile engine bay.

The housing portion 112 generally is configured to support the airfilter 108 and provide an interface between the air filter 108 and anintake portion of an automobile engine. A front side of the housingportion 112 comprises a conduit 120 that is configured to receive an airintake conduit extending to the intake portion of the automobile engine.Typically, a longitudinal dimension of the conduit 120 is positioned atan angle relative to the housing portion 112. Generally, the value ofthe angle between the conduit 120 and the housing portion 112 dependsupon the particular automobile for which the air box 104 is to beutilized. Further, the conduit 120 comprises a flange 128 and an opening132. The opening 132 serves the function of conducting air drawn throughthe air filter 108 into an interior cavity 136 of the filter into theair intake of the automobile engine. The specific configuration of theflange 128 and a diameter of the opening 132 generally depend upon theparticular make and model of the engine for which the air box 104 is tobe utilized.

With continuing reference to FIG. 1, the air filter 108 comprises afilter material 156 and a distal end cap 164. The distal end cap 164 maybe affixed to the filter material 156 by way of any of a variety offasteners (not shown), or may be molded to of the air filter 108. Thedistal end cap 164 typically is comprised of a material which issufficiently hard so as to retain the filter material 152 in the desiredconfiguration and support the air filter 108 when coupled to the housingportion 112. As shown in FIG. 1, the filter material 156circumferentially surrounds the interior cavity 136 such that the filtermaterial 156 creates an exterior perimeter of at least a portion of theinterior cavity 136. The filter material 156 generally provides asurface area through which to pass an air stream and trap particulatematter and other contaminates so as to prevent them from entering intothe air intake of the automobile engine.

It will be appreciated that a user of the air box 104 may periodicallyclean the air filter 108 rather than replacing the air filter, as istypically done with conventional air filter systems. A straightforwardmethod for cleaning the air filter 108 comprises removing the air intakeconduit of the automobile engine from the conduit 120, inserting a waterhose through the opening 132 into the interior cavity 136 of the filter,and spraying water so as to flush contaminants from the filter material156. A drawback to this cleaning method is that the user must attempt tobend the hose inside the interior cavity 136 so as to direct the waterstream onto the filter material 156. Bending the hose within a smallarea, such as the interior cavity 136, often causes the hose to crimp,thereby reducing water flow and consequently hindering effectivelycleaning the air filter 108.

Another drawback to bending the hose within the interior cavity 136 isthat generally the user will not be able to uniformly clean the filtermaterial 156. In an attempt to avoid crimping the hose, the user mayconsider using a water nozzle which directs the water stream at an anglerelative to a longitudinal axis of the hose. However, typicallyavailable water nozzles, such as garden-variety nozzles, are often toobig to fit through the opening 132 of the conduit 120 and into theinterior cavity 136. Moreover, many garden-variety water nozzles havesharp edges and bulky features which may damage or even puncture thefilter material 156, thereby ruining the air filter 108. What is needed,therefore, is an air filter cleaning device to flush contaminants froman intake air filter of an automobile engine without damaging the airfilter material.

SUMMARY

An apparatus and a method are provided for an air filter cleaning wandfor flushing contaminants from an intake air filter of an automobileengine. The air filter cleaning wand comprises a proximal flange, aconduit, and a distal end portion. The proximal flange is configuredwith an interior opening to receive a nozzle of a water hose. In oneembodiment, the proximal flange is a threaded female hose couplingconfigured to receive a garden hose. In other embodiments, the proximalflange may be a male hose coupling, such as a threaded male coupling toreceive a female coupling of a garden hose, or a fitting configured toreceive a push-on hose and fastened by way of a hose clamp. The conduitcomprises an elongate member extending from the proximal flange to adistal end cap. In an embodiment, the conduit has a trapezoidalcross-sectional shape, although in other embodiments the cross-sectionalshape may be rectangular, triangular, circular, ellipsoidal, orpolygonal. An interior of the conduit is in fluid communication with theinterior opening of the proximal flange. The distal end portion of theconduit comprises a plurality of longitudinally aligned vents in fluidcommunication with the interior of the conduit. The individual ventspreferably comprise openings in the conduit having a circular shape,although other shapes may be used, such as rectangular, triangular,ellipsoidal, or polygonal. Upon passing water through the water hose andinto the conduit, the water exits the vents in the form of pressurizedwater streams suitably positioned along the distal end portion to flushcontaminants from the air filter. The air filter cleaning wand isadvantageously comprised of a material which is sufficiently durable andtemperature resistant to retain its configuration during operation whencoupled to pressurized water sources. The proximal flange furthercomprises a plurality of grip structures disposed around the peripheryof the proximal flange to facilitate installing the air filter cleaningwand onto the water hose.

In an exemplary embodiment, an apparatus for an air filter cleaning wandcomprises a proximal flange configured to receive a nozzle of a waterhose; a conduit comprising an elongate member extending from theproximal flange to a distal end cap, where an interior of the conduit isin fluid communication with an interior opening of the proximal flange;and a distal end portion of the conduit comprising a plurality of ventsin fluid communication with the interior of the conduit; where uponpassing water through the water hose and into the conduit, the waterexits the plurality of vents in the form of pressurized water streamssuitably disposed along the distal end portion to flush contaminantsfrom a filter material of an air filter.

In another exemplary embodiment, the air filter cleaning wand iscomprised of a material which is sufficiently durable and temperatureresistant to retain its configuration during operation when coupled witha pressurized water source, such as a garden hose. In another exemplaryembodiment, the conduit comprises a top wall, a bottom wall, a frontwall, a back wall, and a distal cap, all of which walls being joined byintervening rounded edges so as to eliminate sharp edges which mayotherwise damage the air filter during cleaning. In another exemplaryembodiment, the walls are joined such that the conduit has a trapezoidalcross-sectional shape. In another exemplary embodiment, the conduit hasa cross-sectional shape comprising rectangular, triangular, circular,ellipsoidal, or polygonal.

In another exemplary embodiment, the proximal flange comprises acylindrical portion and a mount plate joined by a smooth transition. Inanother exemplary embodiment, the interior opening of the proximalflange is distally bounded by a mount plate and peripherally bounded bythe cylindrical portion, where the interior opening is formed such thatan interior surface of the cylindrical portion includes a plurality ofthreads, and the mount plate includes a passage from the interioropening to an interior of the conduit. In another exemplary embodiment,the proximal flange further comprises a plurality of grip structuresdisposed around the periphery of the cylindrical portion. In anotherexemplary embodiment, specific dimensions incorporated into the proximalflange depend upon a particular male hose fitting to which the proximalflange is intended to be coupled.

In another exemplary embodiment, the proximal flange is configured to becoupled with a garden hose. In another exemplary embodiment, theproximal flange is configure to be a threaded female hose coupling. Inanother exemplary embodiment, the proximal flange is configured to be athreaded male hose coupling. In another exemplary embodiment, theproximal flange is configured to receive a push-on hose and fastened byway of a hose clamp.

In another exemplary embodiment, the vents are longitudinally arrangeduniformly along the distal end portion of the conduit. In anotherexemplary embodiment, each of the individual vents comprises a circularopening in the front wall of the conduit. In another exemplaryembodiment, each of the individual vents comprises an opening having ashape comprising rectangular, triangular, ellipsoidal, or polygonal. Inanother exemplary embodiment, a portion of the individual vents haveadjustable shapes so as to alter the form of the pressurized waterstreams issued from the vents.

In an exemplary embodiment, a method for cleaning an air filter which isinstalled within an engine bay of an automobile comprises rotating aproximal flange of an air filter cleaning wand onto a male connector ofa water hose so as to tightly engage threads of the proximal flange withthreads of the male connector so as to establish a tight coupling of theair filter cleaning wand and the water hose; removing an air intakeconduit of the automobile from the air filter, thereby exposing aninterior cavity of the air filter; inserting a distal end portion of theair filter cleaning wand into the interior cavity of the air filter;passing water into the water hose, and then into a conduit of the airfilter cleaning wand, such that the water exits the conduit by way of aplurality of vents in the form of pressurized water streams disposedalong the distal end portion; using the pressurized water streams toflush contaminants from a filter material of the air filter; allowingthe water and contaminants to drain from a bottom portion of the airfilter and exit the engine bay; and allowing the air filter to becomedry.

In another exemplary embodiment, using the pressurized water streamsfurther comprises rotating the conduit to direct the pressurized waterstreams around the circumference of the filter material so as to flushthe entirety of the air filter. In another exemplary embodiment,removing an air intake conduit further comprises spraying an air filtercleaner onto both sides of the filter material and allowing the airfilter cleaner to soak into the filter material for a predetermined timeperiod so as to loosen contaminants from the filter material. In anotherexemplary embodiment, allowing the air filter to become dry furthercomprises uniformly applying air filter oil to the filter material andallowing the air filter oil to wick into the filter material.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings refer to embodiments of the present invention in which:

FIG. 1 is an upper perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of an airbox with an integrated filter medium;

FIG. 2 is an upper perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of an airfilter cleaning wand in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a lower perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of an airfilter cleaning wand, according to the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal view of a proximal end of an exemplaryembodiment of an air filter cleaning wand in accordance with the presentinvention.

While the present invention is subject to various modifications andalternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by wayof example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. Theinvention should be understood to not be limited to the particular formsdisclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover allmodifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spiritand scope of the present invention.

DETAILED DISCUSSION

In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth inorder to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. Itwill be apparent, however, to one of ordinary skill in the art that thepresent invention may be practiced without these specific details. Inother instances, well known components or methods have not beendescribed in detail but rather in a block diagram, or a schematic, inorder to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the present invention. Furtherspecific numeric references such as “first driver,” may be made.However, the specific numeric reference should not be interpreted as aliteral sequential order but rather interpreted that the “first driver”is different than a “second driver.” Thus, the specific details setforth are merely exemplary. The specific details may be varied from andstill be contemplated to be within the spirit and scope of the presentinvention. The term “coupled” is defined as meaning connected eitherdirectly to the component or indirectly to the component through anothercomponent.

In general, the present invention describes an apparatus and a methodfor an air filter cleaning wand to flush contaminants from an intake airfilter of an automobile engine. The air filter cleaning wand comprises aproximal flange, a conduit, and a distal end portion. The proximalflange is configured with an interior opening to receive a nozzle of awater hose. In one embodiment, the proximal flange is a threaded femalehose coupling configured to receive a garden hose. In other embodiments,the proximal flange may be a male hose coupling, such as a threaded malecoupling to receive a female coupling of a garden hose, or a fittingconfigured to receive a push-on hose and fastened by way of a hoseclamp. An interior of the conduit is in fluid communication with theinterior opening of the proximal flange. The distal end portion of theconduit comprises a plurality of longitudinally aligned vents in fluidcommunication with the interior of the conduit. Upon passing waterthrough the water hose and into the conduit, the water exits the ventsin the form of pressurized water streams suitably positioned along thedistal end portion to flush contaminants from the air filter. The airfilter cleaning wand is advantageously comprised of a material which issufficiently durable and temperature resistant to retain itsconfiguration during operation when coupled to pressurized watersources.

FIGS. 2-3 are perspective views of an exemplary embodiment of an airfilter cleaning wand 200 in accordance with the present invention. Theair filter cleaning wand 200 generally is comprised of a material whichis sufficiently durable and temperature resistant to retain itsconfiguration during operation when coupled with a pressurized watersource, such as a garden hose. Those skilled in the art will instantlyrecognize that the air filter cleaning wand 200 possesses a generallyelongate configuration, and thus is particularly well suited forinserting into the opening 132 of the air filter 108.

The air filter cleaning wand 200 comprises a proximal flange 204suitably configured to receive a water hose, a conduit 208, and a distalend portion 212. The proximal flange 204 comprises a cylindrical portion216 and a mount plate 220. A transition 224 joins a proximal end of theconduit 208 to the mount plate 220. Similarly, a transition 228 joinsthe mount plate 220 to the cylindrical portion 216. As illustrated inFIG. 1, the transitions 224, 228 preferably are rounded and smooth so asto eliminate sharp edges which may otherwise damage the air filter 108during cleaning. The proximal flange 204 further comprises a pluralityof grip structures 232 disposed around the periphery of the cylindricalportion 216. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the gripstructures 232 facilitate a user grasping and rotating the proximalflange during installation onto a water hose, particularly when theflange is wet.

In the illustrated embodiment of FIGS. 2-4, there are six gripstructures 232 arranged uniformly around the periphery of thecylindrical portion 216. In other embodiments, however, more or lessthan six grip structures 232 may be disposed on the cylindrical portion216. In still other embodiments, the grip structures 232 may be arrangedother than uniformly around the periphery of the cylindrical portion216. It should be understood that the grip structures 232 may becomprised of shapes, sizes, and arrangements other than as shown inFIGS. 2-4, without deviating from the spirit and scope of the presentinvention.

As best shown in FIG. 3, the proximal flange 204 comprises an interioropening 236, which is distally bounded by the mount plate 220 andperipherally bounded by the cylindrical portion 216. The interioropening 236 is formed such that an interior surface of the cylindricalportion 216 includes a plurality of threads 240, and the mount plate 220includes a passage 244 from the interior opening 236 to an interior ofthe conduit 208. It will be appreciated that the cylindrical portion216, the interior opening 236, and the plurality of threads 240generally embody a female hose coupling. It will be further appreciatedthat the specific dimensions incorporated into the proximal flange 204,such as, by way of example, but not limited to, the diameter of theinterior opening 236, a number of the threads 240, and a pitch of thethreads 240, will depend upon the particular male hose fitting to whichthe proximal flange 204 is intended to be coupled. In one embodiment,the proximal flange 204 is configured to be coupled with a garden hose.In other embodiments, however, the proximal flange 204 may be configuredfor various types of water hoses other than a garden hose. In stillother embodiments, the proximal flange 204 may be configured to be athreaded male hose coupling. In yet other embodiments, the proximalflange 204 may be configured to receive a push-on hose which may befastened by way of a hose clamp.

With reference to FIGS. 2-3, the conduit 208 generally is an elongatemember extending from the mount plate 220 to the distal end portion 212.In the illustrated embodiment, the conduit 208 comprises a top wall 248,a bottom wall 252, a front wall 256, a back wall 260, and a distal cap264. All the walls comprising the conduit 208 are joined by interveningrounded edges 268. The rounded edges 268 are smooth so as to eliminatesharp edges which may otherwise damage the air filter 108 duringcleaning. As shown in FIG. 2, the front wall 256 comprises a pluralityof vents 272 which are in fluid communication with the interior of theconduit 208. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the pluralityof vents 272 serve to allow water passed into the conduit 208 by way ofthe passage 244 to exit the conduit 208 as a plurality of pressurizedwater streams disposed along the distal end portion 212 so as toadvantageously clean the air filter 108.

In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 2, seventeen individual vents 272are longitudinally arranged uniformly along the distal end portion 212of the front wall 256. Each of the individual vents 272 generally is acircular opening in the front wall 256 of the conduit. In otherembodiments, however, more or less than seventeen individual vents 272may be disposed on the conduit 208. It should be further understood thatthe individual vents 272 may be comprised of shapes, sizes, andarrangements other than as shown in FIG. 2, without deviating from thespirit and scope of the present invention. In another embodiment, theconduit may include various components and mechanisms such that at leastsome of the individual vents 272 have adjustable shapes and sizes. Itwill be recognized that adjustable vents 272 enable a user of the airfilter cleaning wand to alter the form of the pressurized water streamsissued from the vents 272. Furthermore, in the illustrated embodiment ofFIGS. 2-4, the walls 248, 252, 256, and 260 give the conduit 208 agenerally trapezoidal cross-sectional shape. It should be recognizedthat the conduit 208 need not be limited to the trapezoidalcross-sectional shape, but may include other shapes, including, but notnecessarily limited to, rectangular, triangular, circular, ellipsoidal,polygonal, and the like.

One embodiment of a method for cleaning the air filter 108 comprisesrotating the proximal flange 204 onto the male connector of a gardenhose so as to tightly engage the threads 240 with the threads of themale connector. The air intake conduit of the automobile is then removedfrom the conduit 120, thereby exposing the interior cavity 136 of theair filter 108. An air filter cleaner may be sprayed onto both sides ofthe filter material 156 and allowed to soak into the filter material 156for a predetermined time period so as to loosen contaminants trappedwithin the filter material 156. The distal end portion 212 is theninserted into the interior cavity 136 of the air filter 108. Uponpassing water into the garden hose, and then into the conduit 208 by wayof the passage 244, the water exits the conduit 208 by way of theplurality of vents 272 in the form of pressurized water streams disposedalong the distal end portion 212. The pressurized water streams are thenused to flush contaminants from the filter material 156. It isenvisioned that the conduit 208 may be advantageously rotated by hand todirect the pressurized water streams around the circumference of thefilter material 156 so as to flush the entirety of the air filter 108.The water and filter contaminants then drain from a bottom portion ofthe air filter 108 and exit the engine bay. Where the air filter 108 isof the oiled variety, once the air filter is completely dry, air filteroil may be uniformly applied and allowed to wick into the filtermaterial 156. Other methods for using the air filter cleaning wand 200to clean the air filter 108 will be apparent to those skilled in the artwithout deviating from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

While some specific embodiments of the present invention have been shownthe invention is not to be limited to these embodiments. For example,most functions performed by electronic hardware components may beduplicated by software emulation. Thus, a software program written toaccomplish those same functions may emulate the functionality of thehardware components in input-output circuitry. The present invention isto be understood as not limited by the specific embodiments describedherein, but only by scope of the appended claims.

1. An apparatus for an air filter cleaning wand for flushingcontaminants from an intake air filter of an automobile engine, theapparatus comprising: a proximal flange configured to receive a nozzleof a water hose; a conduit comprising an elongate member extending fromthe proximal flange to a distal end cap, where an interior of theconduit is in fluid communication with an interior opening of theproximal flange; and a distal end portion of the conduit comprising aplurality of vents in fluid communication with the interior of theconduit; where upon passing water through the water hose and into theconduit, the water exits the plurality of vents in the form ofpressurized water streams suitably disposed along the distal end portionto flush contaminants from a filter material of an air filter.
 2. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein the air filter cleaning wand is comprisedof a material which is sufficiently durable and temperature resistant toretain its configuration during operation when coupled with apressurized water source, such as a garden hose.
 3. The apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein the conduit comprises a top wall, a bottom wall, afront wall, a back wall, and a distal cap, all of which walls beingjoined by intervening rounded edges so as to eliminate sharp edges whichmay otherwise damage the air filter during cleaning.
 4. The apparatus ofclaim 3, wherein the walls are joined such that the conduit has atrapezoidal cross-sectional shape.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, whereinthe conduit has a cross-sectional shape comprising rectangular,triangular, circular, ellipsoidal, or polygonal.
 6. The apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein the proximal flange comprises a cylindrical portion anda mount plate joined by a smooth transition.
 7. The apparatus of claim6, wherein the interior opening of the proximal flange is distallybounded by a mount plate and peripherally bounded by the cylindricalportion, where the interior opening is formed such that an interiorsurface of the cylindrical portion includes a plurality of threads, andthe mount plate includes a passage from the interior opening to aninterior of the conduit.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein theproximal flange further comprises a plurality of grip structuresdisposed around the periphery of the cylindrical portion.
 9. Theapparatus of claim 8, wherein specific dimensions incorporated into theproximal flange depend upon a particular male hose fitting to which theproximal flange is intended to be coupled.
 10. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein the proximal flange is configured to be coupled with a gardenhose.
 11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the proximal flange is athreaded female hose coupling.
 12. The apparatus of claim 10, whereinthe proximal flange is a threaded male hose coupling.
 13. The apparatusof claim 10, wherein the proximal flange is configured to receive apush-on hose and fastened by way of a hose clamp.
 14. The apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein the plurality of vents is longitudinally arranged anduniformly spaced along the distal end portion of the conduit.
 15. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of vents comprises acircular opening in the front wall of the conduit.
 16. The apparatus ofclaim 14, wherein each of the plurality of vents comprises an openinghaving a shape comprising rectangular, triangular, ellipsoidal, orpolygonal.
 17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein a portion of theplurality of vents have adjustable shapes so as to alter the form of thepressurized water streams issued from the vents.
 18. A method forcleaning an air filter which is installed within an engine bay of anautomobile, the method comprising: rotating a proximal flange of an airfilter cleaning wand onto a male connector of a water hose so as totightly engage threads of the proximal flange with threads of the maleconnector so as to establish a tight coupling of the air filter cleaningwand and the water hose; removing an air intake conduit of theautomobile from the air filter, thereby exposing an interior cavity ofthe air filter; inserting a distal end portion of the air filtercleaning wand into the interior cavity of the air filter; passing waterinto the water hose, and then into a conduit of the air filter cleaningwand, such that the water exits the conduit by way of a plurality ofvents in the form of pressurized water streams disposed along the distalend portion; using the pressurized water streams to flush contaminantsfrom a filter material of the air filter; allowing the water andcontaminants to drain from a bottom portion of the air filter and exitthe engine bay; and allowing the air filter to become dry.
 19. Themethod of claim 18, wherein using the pressurized water streams furthercomprises rotating the conduit by hand to direct the pressurized waterstreams around the circumference of the filter material so as to flushthe entirety of the air filter.
 20. The method of claim 18, whereinremoving an air intake conduit further comprises spraying an air filtercleaner onto both sides of the filter material and allowing the airfilter cleaner to soak into the filter material for a predetermined timeperiod so as to loosen contaminants from the filter material.
 21. Themethod of claim 20, wherein allowing the air filter to become dryfurther comprises uniformly applying air filter oil to the filtermaterial and allowing the air filter oil to wick into the filtermaterial.